Folding square.



- A. J GRISSOM.

FOLDING SQUARE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1910.

Patented Marl28,1911-.

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VII/II 1n: mmms PETERS ca wAsiamt-ron, n. c.

ilhll @T ABRAHAM J. GRISSOlVI, OF YEAGER, OKLAHOMA.

FOLDING SQUARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1am.

Application filed February 1, 1910. Serial No. 541,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM J. GRrssoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yeager, in the State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Squares, of which the following is a specification. I

.This invention relates to squares commonly employed by carpenters or other? mechanics and the primary object of the invention is to construct a square of this character which may be easily and quickly folded so as to be carried in the pocket of the mechanic or to be readily stored within a tool box without occupying an undue amount of space as is the case in the well known type of square now in common use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a square of this character having one of its legs folded upon its opposite leg the said leg members being so connected together as to form a perfectly rigid joint when arranged in operative position at right angles to each other.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing there has been illustrated a simple and preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a square, constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the leg members in their setup or operative position. Fig. 2 is a fragmental elevation illustrating the leg members swung upon each other to collapse the device. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing the numerals 1 and 2 designate the leg members of the square. The leg member 1 is provided upon its inner edge and adjacent its upper portion with an arcuate recess 3, while the leg member 2 is provided with an arcuate tongue 4 which is adapted to be seated within the said recess 3. It is to be understood that the arcuate walls of both the tongue and the recess 8 are struck from a common center and that the tongue has its lower edge positioned a suitable distance beyond this point from which the arcs are struck so that the leg member 2 may be readily folded against the inner face of the leg member 1 without necessarily separating said members from each other. The walls provided by the recess 3 are each provided with centrally arranged V-shaped depressions or pockets 5 and the outer edges of the tongue 4 are provided with V-shaped projections 6 adapted to engage within the said pockets 5. By this arrangement it will be noted that the lateral movement of the member 2 in relation to the member 1 is entirely overcome and that the tongue 4 is provided with an effective bearing within the said pockets. By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing it will be noted that the tongue 4 is of a lesser width than the leg 2, and thevertically projecting portions upon the end of the said leg 2 adjacent the tongue are also provided with V-shaped projecting portions 7 which are adapted to engage with V-shaped pockets 8 which comprise a continuation of the main pockets 5. I In order to effectively retain the legs 1 and 2, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the leg member 1 adjacent the wall 5 formed by the recess 3 has a curved cutaway portion 9. The wall provided by this cut-away portion is inclined or beveled, as designated by the numeral 2, to provide a continuation of the V-shaped depression of the recess 3, and to also serve as a pocket for the reception of a retaining disk 13. This disk comprises a curved member having an arcuate face corresponding to the inner wall 5 of the recess 3, and the said curved face is provided with a V shaped depression, while the rounded body of the disk is provided with a V-shaped extension 15 adapted to engage the V-shaped depression 10 of the circular opening 9. The tongue 4 has its longer arcuate edge provided with a curved depression 11, the same having an inwardly beveled or V-shaped passage 16, so that when the curved depression 11 is brought into alinement with the circular opening 9, they form a complete circle and when in this position, the disk 13 is rotated, so as to bring its beveled \l-shaped edge into engagement with the V-shaped depression 16 provided by the pocket 11, and thus effectively and securely retain the legs 1 and 2 at right angles to each other.

It is to be understood that the tongue 4 of the member 2 has its lower inclined wall almost contacting with the edge of the recess 3, and it will be noted that by slightly springing the said tongue and the lower inner portion of the member 2, the legs 1 and 2 may be eifectively connected together.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is In a device of the class described, a pair of leg members, one of said leg members having an arcuate slot, the walls of which being provided with V-shaped grooves, a segmental pocket upon this member communicating with the groove, the walls of said pocket being provided with an inwardly extending depression, a disk member having its annular edge provided with an inclined projecting portion adapted to engage the inclined depression of the pocket, said disk having an arcuate cut away por tion corresponding to the arcuate wall of the depression, the second member having an arcuate tongue, the walls of which being 7 provided with V-shaped extensions adapted to engage the Vshaped depressions of the arcuate cut away portion of the first memher, the arcuate faces of the tongue as well as the walls of the groove being struck from a common center and the tongue having a cut away portion provided with a pocket adapted to aline with the pocket upon the first leg and to form a complete circle when alining with said pocket substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABRAHAM J. GRISSOM. l/Vitnesses R. B. COLLIER, J. C. CASSALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

